Aloes

Aloes are some of the toughest, most reliable undemanding and striking landscape plants available. A flowering succulent, the genus is native to Arabia, Madagascar and Africa but is most diverse in South Africa.

They are amongst the most voluptuous and showy of succulents. In Australia, there are several varieties available depending on climatic region and the size of the garden. Brisbane Botanic Gardens, at Mount Coot-tha has a wonderful collection of aloes. There are over 300 species and hybrids.

Aloes are evergreen perennials, with architectural foliage that can be decoratively toothed or almost smooth, vibrantly green, blue or grey. Frosts, or cool winter temperatures, can often darken or tinge the foliage of some species with red - a wonderful seasonal bonus. Most aloes flower from autumn to spring making them essential ingredients for winter gardens.

Some to look out for include Aloe cameronii because of its firey flowers. They dribble nectar, attracting honey bees and birds into the garden, bringing life in the middle of winter. It's adaptable to a range of soils and it doesn't mind frost.

Aloe chabaudii is another species that adapts well to a variety of soils and climates. It makes an excellent ground cover, grows best in a sunny position and makes a long lasting cut flower.

Aloe ferox is a perfect plant for growing in containers. Even when the flowers are starting to finish, the plant is attractive, particularly to native honey bees. The leaves produce a really bitter yellow sap, which is used as a traditional cure for nail biting.

Another fabulous aloe is a hybrid called Aloe x winteri. It has orange flowers, but this particular variety has a beautiful lemon yellow flowers. It has a dense, branching, upright habit which makes it really suitable for hedging.

Aloes like plenty of sunshine and excellent drainage. It can be difficult growing them in clay soils in the ground. But they are perfect in a pot. Use a ready-made cactus and succulent mix, or a good propagating mix.

It's best to plant aloes into a clay or terracotta pot. Put some pieces of broken pot over the drainage hole because that allows water to circulate through, and keeps the soil in.

To plant an aloe, knock it out of the pot, don't tease the roots. Put some soil in the bottom of the pot - but remember it needs to go in the new pot at the same depth - and then just backfill. A terracotta pot is useful because it allows the soil to breathe.

Another advantage of growing larger aloes in terracotta pots is that these pots are sturdier and act as a counter balance to the larger growing plants - in other words it stops them falling over.

When it comes to pests and diseases, aloes are really trouble free. They occasionally get scale or mealy bugs when grown indoors. If this happens treat them with white oil.

Outdoors, the problem is root rot, particularly if they are grown in clay soils. Work plenty of gravel and sand into the soil, add gypsum and grow them in a raised bed or on a mound. Don't over water them.

Aloes are wonderful plants. There's at least one for every garden. I've mass planted my nature strip in Wynnum with aloe vera and I harvest the fresh sap because it's the best remedy for sunburn. When aloes flower in winter and spring, they'll brighten any landscape.

You can watch the video of this story on the website. Go to abc.net.au/gardening and follow the links to video.